author
Buffalo Bill
1846–1917
A larger-than-life figure of the American West, this scout, buffalo hunter, and performer turned his own adventures into one of the most famous traveling shows of the 19th century. His life helped shape the legend of the frontier for audiences in the United States and abroad.
4 Audiobooks
The Life of Hon. William F. Cody, Known as Buffalo Bill, the Famous Hunter, Scout and Guide An Autobiography
by Buffalo Bill
The Great Salt Lake Trail
by Henry Inman, Buffalo Bill
An Autobiography of Buffalo Bill (Colonel W. F. Cody)
by Buffalo Bill
The Adventures of Buffalo Bill
by Buffalo Bill
About the author
Born William Frederick Cody in Iowa on February 26, 1846, he grew up in Kansas and took on a string of frontier jobs while still young. Over time he became known as a buffalo hunter and army scout, building the reputation that would make “Buffalo Bill” one of the best-known names of his era.
Cody was more than a frontier celebrity: he became a major showman. In 1883 he launched Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, a huge popular entertainment that blended sharpshooting, riding, staged frontier scenes, and dramatic versions of western life. The show toured widely in the United States and Europe and helped fix the image of the Old West in the public imagination.
He died in Denver, Colorado, on January 10, 1917. Today, Buffalo Bill remains a fascinating mix of history and legend — a real person whose life was turned into spectacle even before it was over.